"Your Aunt Jennifer's husband was a cousin
to my dad and my uncle. When Uncle Julian was killed in the car accident we
were all pretty devastated. My Uncle Brad who I'm named after was affected most
as he was always around the estate with his girlfriend either visiting us or your
aunt and her husband. When the kid who caused the accident, (he'd stolen the
car and was showing off with some of his friends) got off with community
service and banned from driving for three years Uncle Brad was really annoyed.

When the boy returned to the estate holding
his hands above his head as if he'd won a victory Uncle Brad lost it and went
to work. He beat the shit out of the kid who was eighteen at the time. The kid ended
up in hospital with a busted nose and a couple of cracked ribs. Uncle Brad told
him before the ambulance came to take him to hospital, "That if he ever got behind
the wheel of a car again he'd break both his arms and legs."

The law was called and Uncle Brad was
arrested and charged with G.B.H. when his case came up he got six years, meanwhile
the kid and his family moved off the estate actually I think they left London
and are living in Slough somewhere."

Brad Simmonds paused and took a packet of
cigarettes out before lighting up he asked the fair haired youth. "Is it okay if
I smoke?"

He got the nod from Shandy, and he
proceeded to light up before he continued with his narration.

"Your aunt used to visit Uncle Brad once a
month with his girlfriend but the girlfriend after a couple of months dropped
him. Your aunt continued to visit but when you came to live with her she told
him and they decided that she shouldn't visit anymore, but my dad said she used
to write to him instead. Uncle Brad told my dad when he went to visit him that
we had to lookout for you," he stopped his narration to smile at the boy and
ruffle his hair.

"So my dad made it a point to let all the
kids on the estate know that you were off bounds to any kind of piss taking,
snide remarks or threatening behaviour.

When you were at school at first it was my
brother Peter who kept an eye on you then when he left I took over the job. We
really didn't have any problems as you were such a quiet kid and always on your
own and you still are. I don't know why but yesterday something just made me
think better watch out for Shandy and sure enough you were being given a bit of
grief by them shits."

"You no my nickname?"

"I know a lot about you, how your parents
left you with Aunt Jenny then taking off for Thailand,
I know that your name is Jeremy Walker and that your pet name was Shandy boy
then shortened to Shandy."

"I often used to wonder why the kids on the
estate used to leave me alone and never gave me a hard time there or at school
as quite a few of them from the estate go to the same school as I do, now I
know why. But you and your brother couldn't be everywhere Simmonds."

"Didn't have to be, we had are eyes keeping
an eye on you and if there had been any problems we would have known about it."

"Umm Simmonds, umm can you stop looking out
for me now."

"No way, but in a couple of weeks when
Uncle Brad is out ask him if he says okay then it's done till then you'll be
watched. Now you had better get inside the school I'm going over by the gates
to keep an eye open for a certain little person with a big mouth."

"Brad,"

"Yeah."

"Remember don't hurt him."

The 6ft 4ins of toned muscle that was Brad
Simmonds smiled as he got out of the car saying, "Don't worry your little head
about it, I'll be as sweet as pie towards him, now get in the school, I don't
want him seeing you around here."

Shandy made his way into the school while
Brad Simmonds walked over to the school gates to wait for John Benson.

It was only a couple of minutes later when Brad
Simmonds saw John Benson walking through the gates he shouted, "Benson," and
when the boy looked in his direction he said, "Follow me."

Not looking to see if the boy did so
Simmonds turned on his heels and made his way to the car. When he reached it he
opened the driver side door and waited till he heard footsteps without turning
he said, "Get in the passenger side," then entered the car, when he was seated the
other door opened and a very perturbed John Benson climbed in.

"What did you want Simmonds?" the younger
boy asked his voice literally shaking with fright.

"I want for you to keep your opinions about
Walker
to yourself, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good because if I hear any unsavoury
remarks around the school about
Walker
I won't stop to question the person I'll come looking for you, and
when I find you, you'd wish I hadn't. Are you clear about what I've just said?"

"Yes Simmonds."

"Good you've got two choices open to you,
keep your big mouth shut while you're at this school, or get your father to put
you into another school. Now piss off and just hope I don't have to come
looking for you again."

John Benson exited the car as quickly as he
could, and for the first time realized that he'd bitten off more than he could
chew when trying to get a stigma attached to his brother's friend. As he walked
away from the car he looked back over his shoulder at the form of Brad Simmonds
who stood silently staring at him and knew as of now he had better keep his
mouth shut inside and outside the school.

The whole day Shandy had trouble
concentrating on his studies the talk he'd had with Brad Simmonds kept
reverberating around inside his head. He also kept seeing the picture his aunt
kept in her room of her husband and the man standing next to him who he was now
sure was Brad Simmonds senior the one who would be returning to the estate in
the near future.

When the bell went for end of classes he
saw Brad Simmonds watching him as he made his way across the playing fields. He
had never noticed before because he hadn't been aware but now he wondered if
Brad watched him everyday when school finished. He smiled to himself as the
thought of Matthew waiting for him at home and he quickened his pace eager to
be in the presence of his lover.

They lay on the bed arms and legs entwined
recovering from their lovemaking.

"What's wrong Shandy?"

"Huh."

"You heard, you've
not been the same since you got home. I don't know what it is maybe you're
having second thoughts about our relationship..."

"No,"
the younger boy screamed," No Matthew it's not our relationship."
And the boy rolled over to lie on top of his lover. Gazing down at the face
that brought so much joy to his being he lowered his head and brushed their
lips together then lifting his head he said, "I've got a bodyguard."

"What."

"I've got a bodyguard," and Shandy related what
had happened not leaving anything out.

"So John tried to give you a hard time?"

"Yes but forget it Matthew he and I didn't
realize that he'd bitten off more than he could chew I'm sure I won't be getting
anymore hassle from him in future."

The older boy looked at his young friend
then knitting his eyebrows asked, "What about me."

"Nothing about you. I told Brad about us and he didn't blink, and if he tried anything
I'd umm I'd..."

"You'd do what."

"I'd do something like kick him in the
goolies or, or, I don't know anyway this is stupid he's there to lookout for me
not hurt me."

The older boy wrapped his arms around his
younger lover squeezing him into his body and seeking his lips till his thirst
for the young boys lips were quenched he broke the
kiss saying, "Dressing time Shandy boy, Jenny will be back shortly." He rolled
the boy off him then rose from the bed and looked down at the younger boy still
lying where he had been deposited on the bed. He smiled then levering his arms
under the boy he lifted him into his arms carrying him to the bathroom so they
could shower then dress.

It was an hour later when Jennifer Adams
let herself into the house when after the initial greeting she was asked about
Brad Simmonds senior.

"What do you know about Brad Simmonds?"

"Umm not much aunty but I was told that he
went to prison for assaulting the person who was responsible for killing Uncle
Julian."

Yes that's true and Vincent Parker got what
he deserved besides killing my husband he put one of the boys who was in the
car with him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But instead of trying to
show some sort of remorse he was bragging about how lightly he got off. That's
why your Uncle did what he did and paid for it. But he's a good man Shandy when
you get to know him you'll soon realize that you'll be able to trust him with
your life."

"Did you know that he put a watch on me?"

"No, but that's the sort of thing I'd
expect him to do knowing how rough some of the boys on this estate can be. Now
are we going to stand here talking all night or are you going to let me get
changed so I can prepare our evening meal."

"Okay aunty."

The older of the two boys called after her
as she made for her room, "Give us a yell Jenny when you want a hand in the
kitchen."

It was two weeks later that Shandy who
hadn't gone to school because he was recovering from a cold, was lying on the
settee in the sitting room watching the box. When the doorbell rang, thinking
it was the postman he got up still in his nightwear and opened the front door.
The fair haired man standing in front of him was enormous; he seemed to fill
the whole door yet there seemed to be something familiar about him but he couldn't
be sure where he'd seen the face before.

"Umm what can I do for you sir?" Shandy
asked nervously.

The man smiled then in a soft voice that
was surprising for a man of his size he asked, "Are you Jeremy Walker?"

"Uh umm yes,"

"I'm Brad Simmonds, I thought that I'd come
around and see you. I phoned your Aunt Jenny, and she told me you hadn't gone
to school today so here I am."

The image of the photograph flashed through
his mind, "Uh come in Uncle," and Shandy stood to one side to let the man into
the house.

Brad Simmonds waited in the passage way for
Shandy to lead the way into the sitting room. Inside he was offered a seat by
the boy then asked.

"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee umm
Uncle?"

"No thanks Shandy I just came around to
have a chat and to see how you're getting along."

"I'm okay doing pretty good,
but do you mind if I go and get changed quickly, I'm still in my nightwear."

"Oh don't worry about it I won't be staying
all that long I just wanted to see you. I think you were about 6 or 7 the last
time I saw you when your parents brought you around on a visit. You've grown
quite a bit but still as skinny as ever. "

"Uh Uncle Brad."

"Yes."

"Umm can you stop the watch on me; you know
Umm Brad and the others."

"No, not at the moment there's no problem
here on the estate, but at your school there are boys who attend who don't live
on this estate and who we don't know anything about. And from what I gathered
from your aunt's letters you're a very quiet boy and don't mix much, so without
her knowledge I put the word out on the estate and got my nephews to keep an
eye on you at school."

"Oh okay ."

"Come on Shandy boy," and he pulled the boy
who was standing in front of him onto his lap as his arms enveloped the boy he
almost disappeared from sight,

"It's not that bad they don't interfere in
your social life they just make sure that no one gives you a hard time."

The boy laughed as he was enveloped in the
arms of this gentle giant of a man, "Why me Uncle?"

The man hesitated before answering, "When
the time is right I'll tell you, now how is your friend Matthew?"

"Umm uh he's okay."

The man felt the boy tense up when the
question was asked now to put the boy at ease he said, "It's okay Shandy you
don't have to be worried, I know about your relationship with him and as long
as you're not harming anyone your sexual preferences are your business, and you
won't find me trying to lecture you on homosexuality, so rest easy."

The boy turned his head and looked up at
the face of the man, "Why did you change the subject when I asked you why me."

"You're smarter than I thought but as I
said, when the time is right I'll tell you."

"Why not now Uncs."

"Huh, that's the first time I've heard that
expression in a long time, you used it when I last saw you quite a few years
ago."

"Come on Uncs tell me now."

The fair haired giant of a man lifted the
boy off his lap then turning him so the boy stood facing him.

"Okay do you want to stand while I tell you
or sit on my lap."

The boy didn't answer but moved forward and
sat on the man's lap again."

"Over fifteen years ago," Brad Simmonds
began his explanation, "I was in love with a woman who became pregnant with my
child. But shortly afterwards she fell in love with another man and left me to
get married to him, they went and lived in Blackpool which is quite a distance from London. I only saw
her from time to time when she came to visit her sister in London and those
were the times when I'd see my son. I agreed with the boy's mother to let the
boy take her husbands surname, then when he was not quite ten I went to prison
and I hadn't seen him in over seven years."

"Where is he now Uncs?"

The man wrapped his arms around the boy
then lowering his mouth to the boy's ear whispered, "Sitting on my lap
listening to me talking."

The boy spun around to face the man his
eyes wandering over the man's face searching to see if he was lying, instead he
saw a very tear filled pair of eyes and a mouth with a faint smile on it.
"You're my father?" He questioned.

"Yes Shandy boy."

"What about the man I called dad."

He was your stepfather, because of the
distances between where we lived I allowed him to be known as your father
thinking it was in your best interest. Only when your mother and he left you
and took off for Thailand that I decided that I'd tell you the truth when I came out of
prison. I wouldn't let your aunt tell you before I came out of prison as I
didn't want you to have the stigma of a jailbird as a father."

"You should have told me I could have come
and visited you in prison."

The man looked at seriousness in the boy's
face then leaning forward kissed him on the forehead, "Looking at you now I
should have, it seems I keep making mistakes where you're concerned but I don't
think I will in future."

He lifted the boy off his lap then stood
up, "I've got to get going I have to meet your aunt during her lunch break,
don't want to be late you know what she's like when she gets angry."

The boy laughed at the thought of this
giant of a man being scared of his aunt as he led him to the front door. At the
door the man turned swiftly for one of his size grasping the boy under the arms
he lifted him as if he were feather and kissed him on the lips before putting
him down he said, "See you later son."

"Okay dad, bye,"

The sound of that one word made the man's
heart leap with joy as he strode off turning and waving to his son.

He watched the man disappear from sight
then closed the door. He couldn't believe it he had a dad, and not the one who
had gone to Thailand but a real dad who was right here, In London. The thought made his
insides do all sorts of funny things that made him want to yell out as loudly
as possible.

He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece in
the sitting room it was just after 12.30pm he went over to the
phone and dialled Matthew's number knowing that he would be on his lunch break
now. He waited for a couple of rings then that voice that he would be able to
distinguish anywhere in the world said, "Hi You."

"Hi You too, guess
what."

"No, don't be sarky or I won't tell you."

"Right then, my dad came over to visit this
morning."

"Bloody Hell! Don't shout,"

"Yeah well the one in Thailand
isn't my dad. I'll tell you all about it when you get home."

"Okay bye, Love you too, bye."

He put the phone down and stood thinking,
"What does Matthew have to think about. Just because he'd found out who his
real dad was and he was in London shouldn't change their feelings about one another."

He made his way to the bathroom to shower
and change and wait for Matthew to get home.

By 3.45pm he was at the front room
window looking out waiting for Matthew's car to pull up. He'd been on pins all
afternoon when Matthew had ended their telephone conversation so suddenly which
kept him wondering why he had.

He moved away from the window and quickly
went to the front door and opened it as he saw Matthew exiting the car. As soon
as the older boy was inside the house their arm went around each other and
their lips came together.

When they broke the kiss the younger boy
said, "You don't know how worried you made me by ending the telephone call so
suddenly."

"Sorry Shandy boy I didn't mean too. The
moment you told me your dad was here I immediately thought that you would leave
and go and live with him, and until you tell me more I still don't know what's
going to happen." Putting an arm around the younger boy they made their way to
the sitting room.

Shandy stopped in mid stride, "There's no
way I'd go off and leave you, or Aunt Jenny just like that."

Matthew pulled his young lover into an
embrace, looking into those grey blue eyes he said, "I'd be lost without you,
you know that don't you."

"And what do you think I'd be without you
beside me," the boy said looking up into his lovers eyes, "Matthew don't let's
talk for now, can we go to our bedroom instead."

He smiled at his young companion whose appetite
for love was insatiable; lifting the boy into his arms he carried him to their
bedroom.

T.B.C.

Any comments or on this story thus far are
very welcome, as long as they're not derogatory. :- cable4uw@yahoo.com